Gorgeous Puzzle (Know Peace) was the winner.On the picture with his trainer Jean Fahey.

Last two Fridays evenings I spent at Hatrick Raceway in Wanganui - Spion Rose Cup was held last week, and the qualifications were held the week before then.

I don't really know how qualifications and the grading and races exactly work -I just love seeing these amazing dogs doing what they love! :)

Danielle (who often handles her Bubba - Three Inch Nail), Sue (Beryl's Mum) and myself had a great time catching up with doggies and people!

A couple of GAP greyhounds came along with us too - they were hitching a ride with various trainers up to Auckland and Hamilton, to their new homes.

I took loads of photos... Some doggies, like the Spion Rose winner Puzzle (left) are very photogenic! :)

Terry (Terry Stanley) caught up with his trainer Kathy Wilson, before hitching a ride to his retirement home in Ashburton. How cute are they both? :)))

Kathy Wilson and Terry Stanley saying goodbye :)

The red fawn greyhound on the right is Janie (Janie Phoenix) who was hitching a ride to Auckland with Kathy. Kathy and her partner Steve have transported numerous GAP greyhounds over the years -thanks a million guys! xxx

Danielle's Bubba (Three Inch Nail) won heat of the Group 1 Spion Rose Cup 2 weeks ago; here is a picture of him on the podium, handled by Danielle:

Danielle and Bubba :)
.

After the final - Know Peace, Little Mother, Benny Rox, and Danielle and Bubba :).

and the podium after the final ...

Amazing Emma (Little Mother) was handled by her trainers' daughters Ella and Georgia...

...and she even had a bit of a lean onto this official who was presenting the winner with the prize!

And a few more pictures of the winner (you can click on the pictures to see full size):

"Know Peace" was bred and raised in the Cleeve kennels, where Ashley (greyhound lover and trainer extraordinaire!) works. She just sent me this picture of Puzzle as a puppy !! SO CUTE!!!

Puzzle with one of his littermates :)))

And last but not the least:
One of the big challenges GAP faces is transporting newly adopted hounds around the country.

Many of them get adopted, for example, by a family in Auckland. However, then GAP kennel managers (Sonja and Irene) face yet another job : finding a ride for the dog to go to his new home. Many trainers help - if they are racing in Wanganui or Palmy, have free space in their trailer and if they live up North.

Some of our volunteers help too -by doing roadtrips to and from Sanson, taking dogs to their new homes. However, volunteers' time is limited, and trainers often dont have extra space in their vehicles and trailers.

As a result, sometimes it takes a week or even two weeks or more to find a ride for a greyhound who has a home already :( This of course means that that greyhound is taking space in the kennels or in a foster home, and as we all know, kennel space is VERY limited and foster homes are few. :( This slows the entire programme down...:(

IF we could get that greyhound to his/her new home faster -that means that another ex-racer can retire and come to GAP sooner!
Also, we have foster homes in Auckland -and sometimes fostered Auckland hounds need to be transported BACK to Sanson - after they dont need fostering any more, or need to go to their new home in, say, Wellington.
So this is where you can make a BIG difference.
Do you travel for work or pleasure, anywhere south of Auckland?

It does not have to be Palmerston North, or Wellington. If you come to Taupo regularly, for example, that can be a big help as we could easily meet you in Taupo and give you a greyhound to take to Auckland! How about your partner, friends, family members? Do you have a bach in Taupo maybe, which you come to often, or do you come skiing to Ruapehu over winter? Perhaps you have family in New Plymouth that you visit often? Maybe you have someone coming from Hawkes Bay who visits you often?
ALL these trips can make a huge difference to greyhounds and to GAP rehoming programme.
If you or anyone you know might be able to help with this, do contact me on favdich@yahoo.co.nz or just call the GAP kennels.

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Greyhounds As Pets NZ

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Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) is a registered charity established and funded by Greyhound Racing New Zealand to find pet homes for retired racing greyhounds as part of its greyhound adoption programme. For more information please visit - http://www.greyhoundsaspets.org.nz/

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